Ergonomic tint plug

ABSTRACT

A tint plug made of resilient plastic (such as LDPE) fits sealingly into an aperture in the deck of a plastic closure for a paint container. The plug has a recessed or concave upper surface spanned by a cross bar handle having a smoothly curved lower surface which one contacts with the fingers to remove the plug. Optional resilient legs allow the handle to raise slightly from the plug body when pulled.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to tint plugs for use in combination withremovable closures for paint containers and the like wherein the closurehas an aperture of regular shape formed therein to receive a tint plug.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known to provide separately removable plugs in the decks ofclosures for paint containers. These removable plugs, commonly referredto as “tint plugs,” permit a paint mixing facility to gain access to thecontents of a factory-filled paint container without removing theprimary closure in order to add pigment or coloring to the base paintwithin the container. Examples of tint plugs are described in U.S. Pat.No. 5,799,813, assigned to Letica Corporation of Rochester, Mich., andU.S. Pat. No. 5,660,302, assigned to Rieke Corporation of Auburn, Ind.

The prior art tint plugs are designed with integral pull rings. TheLetica design provides for a relatively large diameter pull ring whichsurrounds but is partially separable from the perimeter of the tint plugbody whereas the Rieke design provides a relatively small ring whichlies within but is partially separable from the tint plug rim or collar.In both cases, the use of the ring to remove the tint plug requires amanual manipulation to partially separate and lift an edge of the ringand, thereafter, inserting one or more fingers through the ring andpulling it upwardly away from the closure deck to remove the plug fromthe aperture in which it is sealingly located. The dimensions of therings are such that the pulling operation can cause discomfort to theuser.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an ergonomically and operationallyimproved tint plug for use in combination with the removable closures ofpaint containers and the like. In the form hereinafter described, thetint plug has a body of such size and shape, typically but notnecessarily round or circular, to sealingly fit within the aperture inthe deck of the closure with which the plug is to be associated. In thepreferred form, a flange and undercut are formed in the sides of thebody of the tint plug so as to snap into the aperture of the closure inconventional fashion. The tint plug body has a planar perimeter boundinga recessed or concave upper surface and a strap-like lifting member isintegrally attached to the planar perimeter at opposite points so as toextend across the concave surface in upwardly spaced relationshipthereto. This combination provides room to insert one's fingers directlybeneath the lifting member and comfortably pull it upwardly to removethe ting plug.

In the preferred form, the entire body of the tint plug is made of amore resilient plastic material such as LDPE so as to deform slightlywhen the lifting member is pulled upwardly, whereas the closure itselfis made of a more rigid material such as HDPE. Optionally, the legs ofthe lifting member which join the cross bar of the lifting member to theplug perimeter can be made in a resiliently curved type design so as tostretch slightly and allow additional clearance when the cross member ofthe lifting ring is pulled upwardly.

The subject tint plug can be used with many different types of closuresincluding those with simple deck surface openings as well as recessedmoat-type openings.

Also in the preferred form, the cross bar of the lifting member iscurved in cross section so as to provide a convex lower surface and aconcave upper surface. The convex lower surface is the surface which iscontacted by the fingers of the person lifting the ring and the smoothcurved design is ergonomically correct and provides comfort to the userwhen lifting the plug out of the aperture.

Other applications of the present invention will become apparent tothose skilled in the art when the following description of the best modecontemplated for practicing the invention is read in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The description herein makes reference to the accompanying drawingswherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout theseveral views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a plastic container and a first closuredesign accommodating an illustrative embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first tint plug constructed inaccordance with the invention;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the tint plug of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is another side view in section of the tint plug of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another container with a second type oftint plug; and

FIG. 6 is a side view of the tint plug of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a molded plastic container 10 havinga lock-on molded plastic closure 12 of the type providing a secure sealwith the upper rim (not shown) of the container 10 so as to be suitablefor the transportation and storage of various materials including paint.The container 10 and closure 12 are preferably but not necessarilymanufactured of high-density polyethylene (HDPE).

The closure 12 is designed with a relatively flat inner deck 14 in whichis formed a round aperture 16 and, in surrounding relationship to theaperture 16, an optional round collar 18. The aperture 16 is designed toreceive in snap-fit sealing relationship therewith a tint plug 20 whichis preferably constructed of low-density polyethylene by an injectionmolding process. The aperture 16 and collar 18 can be of any desiredshape.

Referring to FIGS. 2-4, the tint plug 20 exhibits a concave uppersurface 22 rounded by an integral planar perimeter 24 below which isformed a plug body 26 having an undercut 28 in spaced relationship tothe perimeter 24 so as to fit within and lock to the material of thedeck 14 surrounding the aperture 16. The perimeter 24 is of such sizeand shape as to fit within the collar 18 in closely spaced relationship.

The tint plug 20 comprises a lifting member 30 in the form of a crossbar-type handle having folded resilient legs 32 and 34, a concave uppersurface 36 and a smoothly convex lower surface 38. The lifting member 30is preferably wider in the center and tapers slightly toward thenarrower legs 32 and 34. It will be appreciated that the manual contactsurface during a lifting operation is the smooth convex lower surface 38of the lifting member 30 which, along with relatively rounded edges,provides ergonomic comfort to the hand of the person using the liftingmember 30 to remove the tint plug 20 from the aperture 16 in the closure12. Plug 20 is typically made of LDPE, but can be made of other resinswith similar resilient character.

In normal operation, the tint plug 20 is securely fit into the aperture16 of the closure 12 prior to filling the container 10 with paint orother suitable material and locking the closure 12 to the container 10.At the paint dealer where coloring is to be added to the base paintwithin the container 10, the tint plug 20 is manually removed, thecoloring material added to the paint within the container 10 and thetint plug thereafter replaced. The lifting member 30 is grasped bysliding one or more fingers under the lifting member 30 and pullingupwardly. The legs 32 and 34 stretch to provide additional room betweenthe lower surface 38 of the lifting member 30 and the surface 22 of theplug body 26 thereby to provide adequate room for the insertion of one'sfingers. The resilient legs 32 and 34 are an optional feature and may bereplaced with essentially straight vertical legs. In either case, theplug 20 is sufficiently resilient as to deform slightly when the liftingmember 30 is pulled up; i.e., the action of applying an upward force tothe lifting member 30 tends to draw the portions of the plug where thelifting member is attached slightly toward one another to break the sealand permit the plug 20 to be withdrawn from the aperture 16. The smoothlower surface 38 and rounded edges provide comfort to the user. The plug20 is generally reinserted in the aperture 16 by pressing down on theconcave center 22 which causes it to snap into place.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show an alternative plug 20′ adapted to fit into anaperture 38 which is recessed into the deck 14′ of the closure 12′ toform a moat-type opening. The plug 20′ has a concave upper surface 22′formed within a flat perimeter 24′ similar to the design of plug 20 inFIGS. 1-4. However, the lifting member 40 is formed as an integral flatband with no straight legs or spring legs. The bow shape together withthe concavity 22′ provides sufficient clearance for insertion of one'sfingers between the member 40 and the plug surface.

As used herein, the term “concave” is intended to embrace all recessedshapes including conical and stepped down.

While the invention has been described in connection with what ispresently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments,it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to thedisclosed embodiments but, on the contrary, is intended to cover variousmodifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit andscope of the appended claims, which scope is to be accorded the broadestinterpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalentstructures as is permitted under the law.

1. A tint plug for use in the removable closure of a paint containerwherein said closure is of the type having an aperture of regular shapeformed therein, said plug comprising: a plastic body shaped and sized tosealingly snap fit into the closure aperture, said body having arecessed upper surface within a generally planar perimeter; and alifting member extending diametrically across and in upwardly spacedrelationship to the recessed surface and having ends integrally joinedto the plug body.
 2. A tint plug as defined in claim 1 wherein thelifting member has a concave cross section to provide a smoothly curvedbottom contact surface for ergonomic manual contact when lifting theplug out of the aperture.
 3. A tint plug as defined in claim 1 whereinthe lifting member comprises resiliently stretchable leg portionsadjacent the points of integral joining with said plug body perimeter.4. A tint plug as defined in claim 1 further including a circular flangeand undercut formed on the side of the plug for snap fit into theclosure aperture.
 5. A tint plug as defined in claim 1 wherein theaperture is circular.
 6. In combination: a closure having a deck and aperimeter for attachment to a container, an aperture being formed in thedeck; a tint plug for sealing attachment to the closure, the tint plugcomprising a plastic body shaped and sized to snap fit into theaperture, the body having a recessed upper surface within a generallycircular perimeter; and a lifting member extending across the recessedsurface and in upwardly spaced relation thereto.
 7. The combinationdefined in claim 6 wherein the upper surface is concave.